The Rockets Red Glare

Tipu Sultan: the grandfather of the Star Spangled Banner?

Tipu was the King of Mysore and a veritable genius. He was a Thomas Edison-esque inventor who created a coinage system, a calendar, and an economic development plan that led to the highest wages and living standards in the world at that time (!!!)

He also created highly advanced iron rockets. In 1780, Tipu Sultan fired these rockets off against the British during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. Many members of the British Army fell. Was it because of the rockets?

When Tipu was defeated in 1790, the British took his rockets home and reverse-engineered them to develop the Congreve Rockets.

They used the Congreve rockets in the Napoleonic Wars, as well as in the American War of 1812. Lawyer Francis Scott Key watched the Congreve Rockets pelt Fort McHenry and later saw the American flag rise in victory above the fort. He was so moved that he wrote a little poem that would become the American national anthem.

As for Tipu, he was eventually killed during the fourth Anglo-Mysore War on this very day in 1799.

Ok so calling Tipu the grandfather of the Star Spangled Banner may be a stretch. But then again, what would we sing about if NOT for his 🚀?!

***Credits***

Painting: @vmhkolkata